Non-refillable bottle.



T D SMITH.

NON-REFILLABLE BOTTLE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9. 1913.

1 1 5 1,224., Patented Aug. 24, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET1.

COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH CO-IWAS NNNNNNNNN .c

T D, SMITH.

NON-REFILLABLE BOTTLE.

APPLICATION flLED JUNE 9. 191a.

atented Aug. 24, 1915.

wue wtoz 7%27% aha (Mag r DWIGHT SMITH, or DENVER, COLORADO.

NON-REFILLABLE BOTTLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedAug. 24, 1915.

Application filed June 9, 1913. Serial No. 772,656.

To all whom it m-dp/conceit t v Be it known that LT DWIGHT SMITH, a citizen of'the'UnitedStates, residing in the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Non-Refillable'Bofl tles; and I declare the 'follo'wi'ng'to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willen'able others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make; and use the same,'reierence being'hadto the accompanying draWingsQand to the'l'etters and figures of reference marked'thereonywhicli form'a part of'this specification.

My invention relates to improvements i1 non refillable bottles, my object being to provide a device of this character which shall permit the escape of'the liquid from the bottle, as it may be needed, butwhich shall be of such construction that it will be impracticableto refill it, owing to the exceedingly smallpa'ssage and'the inaccessibility of the outer extremity of the passage, due to 'theclosure formed by the outer enlarged extremity of the Valve.

My improvedconstruction, briefly stated. consists of a stopper having a body member, a portion of which is adapted to enter the bottle neck while the upper partfextends above the neck and is provided with a shoulder which engages the outer extremity of the neck. This body member in some 'in stances is provided near its lower extremity with a transverse opening which is intersected by a central longitudinal passage extending from the outer extremity of the body member to the transverse opening. In this longitudinal passage is placed a stem valve, which is of less size'than'the passage, the space around the stem being sufficient for the exit of the liquid. The'part of the body member where the transverse opening is located is of less diameter than the inside diameter of the bottle neck, thus leaving sur'licient space for the passage of liquid from the bottle to the transverse opening and thence out of the. bottle around the valve, as will "be readily unclerstood from an inspection of the drawing. The outer extremity of "thevalve extendsbeyond the outer end"of the body member and is enlarged'to form a cap which seats upon the body member and closes the escape opening when the bottle is in the upright'position.

Thebody member extendssomewhat belowthe transverse opening and is equipped on: opposite sides with retaining sprlng members adapted to engage stops'formed on the bottle-neck or the shoulders of the bottle at the inner extremity of the neck, as the case may be. These spring members yield inwardly during the introduction of the stopper but'as soon as the stopper has reached" a predetermined position, the retaining springs, by virtue of'their recoil action, immediately engage the parts of the bottle which serve to prevent the withdrawal of'the stopper without the destruction of the retaining springs. The stem valve has sufie cient longitudinal movement to allow its enlarged end, to move slightly away from the body of the stopper when the bottle is inverted, or in the position for the removal of its contents in order to'permit the escape of the liquid. This enlarged extremity of the valvefhoweveig'is'so close to the top of the body member as to make it impracticable to introduce liquid to the bottle around the stem valve. The lower extremity of this valve isprOvided with a pin which forms a stop to prevent'the removal of the valve and also to limit the longitudinal movement of the latter in the body member.

Having briefly outlined my improved construction, I will proceed to describe same in detail, reference being made to the acconi panying'drawing, in which is'illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In this drawingFigure l is'a detail view of my improved bottle stopper. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 22,"Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the upper part of the bottle with my improved stopper in place, the latter being shown partlyin elevation and partly in section. Fig. 4 is a similar View with the stopper 'sectioni'zed its entire length and but partially inserted. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Figs. 3 and 4, showing thebottle reversed or in'position to permit the escape of the limit of movement for the purpose.

tional view of a bottle, illustrating the form.

of stopper shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a section taken on the line' 99, Fig. 8, viewed in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 8, but showing the stopper in its released position to permit the escape of the liquid when the bottle is inverted or tilted to the pouring position. Fig. 11 is the same View with the bottle inverted. The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views. I

Let the numeral 5 designate my improved bottle stopper considered in its entirety, and composed of a body member 6, a stem valve 7 and retaining springs 8. These springs are secured to the lower reduced part 9 of the body member by means of a suitable fastening device 10.

In the form of construction shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, the springs extend upwardly from the fastening device and normally extend outwardly far enough to engage the shoulders 12 of the bottle below the neck. During the insertion of the stopper these springs engage the inner surface of the bottle neck and by reason of the reduced passage through the neck the springs are compressed or forced toward the body of the stopper but as soon as the latter is fully inserted the spring members move outwardly to the shoulder-engaging position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. Above the reduced part 9 of the stopper is a part 13 of larger diameter, which is surrounded by a sleeve 14, preferably composed of cork. Above the part 13 is a cap 15 forming the upper extremity of the body member, which is provided with shoulders 16 between which and the top of the neck is preferably located a washer 17 composed of cork or other suitable material. In the lower portion of the part 13 of the stopper is formed a transverse opening 18, which is intersected by a longitudinal passage 19, extending from the transverse opening 18 to the upper extremity of the top or cap 15. Located in the passage 19 and arranged to pass through the transverse opening 18 and enter a socket 20 below the opening 18 is a valve 21 composed of a stem 22, which, as illustrated in the drawing is of uniform diameter throughout the greater portion of its length, its outer extremity, however, being enlarged to form a cap 23 which seats closely upon the top of the body part around the outer extremity of the passage 19 beingarranged to form a close joint when the valve is in the closed potion for discharging its contents.

sition. The stem portion of this valve is of somewhat less diameter than that of the passage 19 in order to permit the liquid contents of the bottle to escape around the stem when the bottle is inverted or held in position for the escape of such contents. The portion of the stem of the Valve which passes through the opening 18 is provided with a stop pin 24, which limits the opening movement of the valve when the bottle is in posi- The position of this stop pin will determine the space 4 between the cap 23 of the stem when the valve is open. This space only need besufvficient to permit the escape of the bottles contents as such escape mayberequired. In some instances, where only a very small quantity of the liquid is required at each discharge, the cap may be held closer to the top of the bottle and the space l made correspondingly smaller. In any event, the cap 23 of the valve should be made sufficiently close to the top of the bottle to prevent access for the practical refilling of the bottle after its contents have been discharged.

In the form of construction shown in Fig. 6, the lower part of the body of the stopper is provided with two bow-shaped springs 25, the said springs being bowed inwardly and held in place by a fastening device 26, which engages the centers of the springs, the latter extending equally on both sides of the fastener. These springs, when the stopper is fully inserted, are adapted to enter an interior circumferential recess 27 formed in the bottle neck and located between upper and lower shoulders 28and 29. In this case, the stopper is shorter than in the other forms of construction; hence the reduced lower portion of the body of the stopper does not pass below the inner extremity of the bottle neck, since the construction which is engaged by the retaining springs forms a part of the neck itself. Furthermore, in case the top part of the body of the stopper should be broken or sawed off, the remaining portion of the stopper could not fall into the bottle, as would be the case in the other form of construction. Also, in the form of construction shown in Fig. 6, the valve 30 is formed from an integral piece of wire doubled upon itself the greater portion of its length, its extremities being turned outwardly as shown at 31 .into the opening 18. The upper extremity of the valve in this case consists of an eye 32, which protrudes above the top of the stopper and is therefore accessible if desired for manipulating purposes. This valve may be so arranged that it will be normally held in the open or closed position by the friction of the stopper parts, but ordinarily the valve will move freely within the passage by gravity, so that it will open when the bottle isproperly. tippedand From the foregoing description, the-useand operation of my. improved non-refillable bottle stopper will be readily under- --drical part 34. In this event, the cap 37 of thestopper will fall away from the top of stood, so far as Figs. 1 to 6 areconcerned. Assuming that the stopper is properly constructed, it may be inserted in the neck of the bottle in the same manner as'any other stopper and when it is pushed inwardly to its limit of movement the retaining springs will engage the shoulders 12 of the body of the bottle or the circumferential recess 27 of the neck thereof, depending upon the form of the device employed. The bottle is then ready for use and in order to discharge its contents it is only necessary to invert it, when the liquid will escape through the passage 19, the freedom of such escape depending upon the size of said passage and the distance of the cap 23 of the valve from the topqof the body portion of the stopper.

eferring now to Figs. 7 to 11, inclusive, the numeral 33 designates the stopper which consists preferably of a cylindrical stem 34 slightly cut away at its lower extremity and on opposite sides, as shown at 35, forming recesses into which springs 36 may be compressed during the insertion of the stopper or while these springs are passing through the opening in the bottle neck. These springs are substantially identical in construction and function with those illustrated in the other forms of construction, being in fact identical with those disclosed in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive. The outer extremity of the stopper is enlarged to form a cap 37, which extends above the top of the bottle neck in the usual manner. When the bottle is originally filled a washer of cork 38 or some other suitable yielding material is applied to the upper extremity of the cylindrical stem and immediately in contact with the lower surface of the cap. In this washer is embedded a wire memberv 39, which surrounds the stem and has an ex tremity 40 extending outwardly terminating in an eye 41 which is accessible to the user of the bottle for the purpose of removing the washer preparatory to pouring out the contents of the bottle or a portion thereof. When this washer is in place, it is of such thickness as to maintain the retaining springs 36 closely in engagement with the shoulders 42 of the bottle on opposite sides of the lower extremity of the neck, but when the washer is removed, as it may readily be, through the medium of the wire 39, the top of the stopper will drop to engagement with the top of the bottle neck, thus allowing the springs 36 to move downwardly below their points of normal engagement with the shoulders of the bottle. .desired to remove the contents of the bottle or. a portion thereof, the bottle is inverted or tilted to the desired position, when the Then when it is liquid. therein will pass out of the bottle through theneck space 43, around the cylinthe neck far enough to leave the necessary space 44 for the escape of the liquid around the cap. This form of construction, namely, that disclosedby Figs. 7 to 11, inclusive, is considerably more simple in construction and less expensive to manufacture than those disclosed in the other views, while it performs substantially the same function, and in many instances may be preferable.

If desired, the stopper shown in the lastnamed figures may be equipped with a leaf spring 45, which is pivotally connected to the top of the stopper, as shown at 46, the opposite ends of the spring which are des ignated as 47 being adapted to resiliently engage the top of the bottle neck, whereby the stopper may be retained in the closed position after the removal of the washer 38 and during the time when it is not desired to remove the contents of the bottle. This spring makes it practicable to maintain the bottle closed to prevent the spilling of its contents or a portion thereof in the event of the accidental overturning of the bottle after the removal of the said washer. As this spring is pivotally connected with the stopper, during the removal of the washer 38, the spring will turn to permit such re moval.

I claim 1. A bottle stopper, including a stem of less size than the passage occupied in the neck of the bottle to permit the escape of liquid and having an enlarged outer extremity adapted to close the said passage at its outer end, the stopper being equipped with a removable washer interposed between its enlarged outer extremity and the top of the bottle neck to form a liquid-tight joint, and a device carried by the washer and exposed at the outer edge thereof to facilitate removal of the washer preparatory to the use of the contents of the bottle, the said device consisting of a wire member embedded in the washer adjacent to and surrounding the interiorly projecting stem of the stopper, one extremity of the wire being exposed at the outer edge of the washer to facilitate the removal of the latter, substantially as described.

2. A bottle stopper including a member of less size than the passage occupied to permit the escape of liquid and having an enlarged outer extremity adapted to close the said passage at its outer end, the stopper being equipped with a removable washer preparatory to the use of the contents of interposed between its enlarged outer eX- the bottle. 1 10 tremity, and the top of the bottle neck to In testimony whereof I affix my signature form a liquid tight joint, and a device emin presence of two witnesses.

bedded in the washer, the said device hav- '1 DWIGHT SMITH. ing an extremity passing laterally through Witnesses: v

the washer and exposed at the outer edge A. J. OBRIEN,

thereof to facilitate removal of the washer C. M. W AUDHE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner'of Patents, I

' Washington, D. G. 

